The chill of dawn slowly dissipated as the first timid light of the sun penetrated the ice-covered forest canopy. The fire had already died down, leaving only dead embers and a faint smell of smoke. The silence was almost absolute, broken only by the distant breath of the wind and the soft breathing of two bodies nearby.
Ester opened her eyes slowly, accustomed to waking before any danger. She raised her gaze to the livid sky, assessed her surroundings accurately, and, satisfied that nothing was approaching, finally turned back to the warmth nearby.
And that was when she realized.
A firm weight settled against her waist, and when she lowered her eyes, the sight almost made her breath catch.
